Record or record-blank for talking-machines.



N0. 717,3". Patented Dec. 30, I902. J. E. ALEXANDER.

RECORD ORRECORD BLANK FOB TALKING MACHINES. I

(Application filed Nov. 2, 1900.)

WITNESSES: INVENTOR:

ATTORNEYS,

UNITED STATES PATENT ()EEICE.

JOHN E. ALEXANDER, OF WEST ORANGE, JERSEY.

RECORD OR RECORD-BLANK FO-R TALKING-MACHINES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. '7 17,311, dated December 30, 1902.

Original application filed September 28, 1909, Serial No. 31,357. Divided and this application filed November 2, 1900. Serial Blanks for Talking-Machines; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such to as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

This case is a division of a case filed in the United States Patent Office September 28, 1900, Serial No. 31,357, and relates to the record for a talking-machine, and particularly such a machine as is shown in the original application filed on the date above stated.

The objects of the improved record are to enable a larger superficial area of reproducing cuts or engravings to be obtained, Where- 2 5 by a high rate of speed, and consequently a greater volumeof sound, may be maintained without quickly terminating the period of' sound reproduction; to secure a more dura-. ble and lasting record; to obtain a more perfeet reproduction of sounds. and more eEectually avoid those tones whichfare unnatural to the voice or are not common to the musical instrument or other original-sound producer; to provide a record which can be compactly 3 5 and securely packed for the market with ease and convenience, and to obtain other practical advantages and results, some of which may be referred to hereinafter in connection with the description of the working parts.

The invention consists in the improved record or record-blank for talking-machines and in the arrangements and combinations of parts of the same, all substantially as will be hereinafter set forth, and finally embraced 5 in the clauses of the claim.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, in which like letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in each of the several figures, Figure 1 is a plan of the improved record-blank having my improved construction.

Fig. 2 is a plan of the same, showing it after (No model.)

it has been engraved and ready for reproduc; ing sound. Fig. 3 is a detail section on line y of Fig. 4 of the record on a greatly-enlarged scale. Fig. at is a plan showing a portion of the record on the same large scale, and Fig. Fig. 5 is a section on line 00 of Fig. 1.

In said drawings, 0. indicates the recordblank, comprising a body of wax or,wax-like composition or other material capable of being engraved or receiving impressions due to the action of sound waves or vibrations either mechanically, chemically, or electrically or by any of the methods in the art of producing talking-machine records. Said body or blank 0'. presents a broad basic portion at which it is seated on or is adapted to be attached to a suitable rotary holder. said basic portion the said body is diametrically large or extends far from its center of rotation on its axial shaft or mandrel, and from its diametrically large basic portion the said body or blank is gradually reduced in radial distance of its surface from the axis of lines concentric with the center of lateral movement of its shaft, as hereinafter described. Said blank a is provided with a spherical surface a or a surface'resembling in conformation that ofa sphere, in that the convex curvature of said blank is formed at all efiective points at an equal radial distance from a given center. Said blank or is preferably a segment of a sphere and is centrally perforated, as at c, to receive a holder or a clamp-plate of the holder of the record-operating machine, whereby the blank or record can be easily and conveniently seated in operative relation in-said machine substantially in the manner described in thecase above referred to.

In the ordinary operation of the machine the blank rotates. on an axial mandrel or shaft and the engraving-tool or the stylus or tracing instrument of the reproducer or of the speaker moving with its carrier on a fulcrum or axial center near or approximately at the axial center of the said mandrel or shaft describes a. course concentric with the curvature of the record or blank, the said tool or tracer moving from the periphery of the record inward toward the center. Thus on the periph- At or near cry of the body a a spiral cut, groove, or engraving is formed extending from the larger peripheral part, where the larger spirals are formed, to the diametrically smaller part near the approximate apex or pole of the body, where the spirals are relatively smaller. In thus moving inward it may be observed that the stylus or tracing instrument bears laterally, as indicated by the arrow, against the partition-walls M, Fig. 3; but because of the convexity or variation in the diameter of the engraved surface the said instrument tends to wear not so directly against the thin partitions as heretofore, but into the body of the record, thus tending greatly to increase the durability of the said record, as will be understood.

I am aware that various changes may be made in the construction of the record without departing from the scope of the invention. For example, the said record may be made more or less completely globular in form and may be formed on a greater or less radius or may be relatively wider to'enable a much greater expanse of surface engraving to be obtained, or the record may be conical in shape as distinguished from the true spherical shape without a departure from my invention.

Having thus described the invention, What I claim as new is 1. A record for sound recording and reproducing machines having the form of a segment of a sphere not greater than a hemisphere whereby a broad base and tapering surface are secured.

2. A record for sound recording and reproducing machines, comprising a segment of a sphere taken Wholly on one side of the center of the sphere.

3. A record for sound recording and reproducing machines, having the form of a segment of a sphere less than a hemisphere and being centrally perforated to receive a rec ord-holder.

4. A record for sound recording and reproducing machines, consisting of a segment of a sphere taken wholly on one side of the center of the sphere and being perforated perpendicular to its base to receive a holder.

5. A record for sound recording and reproducing machines comprising a segment of a sphere less than a hemisphere and having its base hollowed or recessed to afford space for the holding and motive mechanisms.

6. A record for sound recording and reproducing machines having the form of a segment of a hollow sphere not greater than a hemisphere, and providing an exterior record-surface and an interior space for holding and rotating means.

7. A record for sound recording and reproducing machines, consisting of a segment of a sphere taken wholly on one side of the center of the sphere and having a broad base and tapering exterior surface, and being hollowed or recessed at its base and centrally apertured to receive holding and rotating means.

8. A record for sound recording and reproducing machines, having the form of a segment of a sphere not greater than a hemisphere and presenting a broad base and tapering exterior surface, and having on said surface a spiral cut or groove the larger whirls of which lie near the base of the record and the smaller ones being formed successively nearer the apex or pole of the record.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto set my hand this 25th day of October, 1900.

JOHN E. ALEXANDER.

Witnesses:

W. H. WrrHERs, CHARLES H. PELL. 

